These Packers rookies are making a big impression right away at training camp and could be carving out a legitimate role for Green Bay in 2023.
The plot thickens at Green Bay Packers training camp as we start to wrap up the second week of practices. We're seeing shuffling on the offensive line, Jordan Love and the offense start to take a more palatable form, and positive signs from a defense that desperately needs to take a step forward.
For the most part, the Packers veterans are getting plenty of headlines throughout training camp to this point. But what about the newcomers, the Packers rookies not only trying to earn their way onto the 53-man roster, but who are trying to carve out roles on either side of the ball?
While some players like Lukas Van Ness already have an obvious role and while some players have been solid but perhaps unspectacular, let's take a look at three Packers rookies who are making a strong impression so far at training camp and could play a sizable role for Green Bay in the 2023 season.
Packers training camp: 3 rookies turning heads immediately in Green Bay
3. Luke Musgrave, TE
While Packers fans were sure to bemoan the fact that Brian Gutekunst, yet again, neglected to take a skill position player in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he made up for it on Day 2 by effectively limiting his draft pool to skill position players.
Former Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave was one of the big gets in that capacity, coming off of the board with the 42nd overall pick early in the second round. Though injuries limited him in his college career, the tape and his testing at the NFL Combine at 6-foot-6, 253 pounds (4.61-second 40, 36-inch vertical jump) made him a coveted prospect with major upside.
It's taken under two weeks with Green Bay for Musgrave to show off the dangerous weapon he can be in the passing game.
Matt Schneidman of The Athletic (subscription required) highlighted Musgrave as a standout in passing drills, particularly one-on-ones, as a matchup nightmare. The Packers beat writer highlighted an impressive contested catch against veteran safety Darnell Savage as one big moment to note, but he has consistently been a problem with his combination of size and speed.
As of now, Musgrave could be the top tight end on the depth chart. He's still coming along as a blocker, which was to be expected, but his pass-catching talent and athletic traits make him a weapon that could be highly valuable for Jordan Love's development, particularly in the red zone. Look for him to continue impressing and start Week 1 with the first-team offense.
2. Carrington Valentine, CB
There aren't questions about the top of the Packers cornerback room right now. Barring something truly shocking or an injury, it's going to be Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon as the starting corners in nickel defensive sets with the latter in the slot. Behind that group, once Eric Stokes clears the PUP list, he's projected to be the fourth cornerback with this position group.
Beyond that quartet, however, the jobs are up for grabs in Green Bay training camp. And to this point, seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine is making a strong case that he should be on the 53-man roster and a depth piece for this defense at corner.
Despite being selected in the final round of the draft, the former Kentucky Wildcats standout made an impression on head coach Matt LaFleur and fans alike during OTAs earlier in the offseason. That hasn't stopped with the start of training camp, though.
Valentine, as noted by Paul Bretl of Packers Wire, has been one of the biggest overall winners of camp to this point, starting out in OTAs working with the third team defense and making his way into the fourth cornerback on the depth chart in camp with Stokes out on the PUP list.
The rookie has a ton of length and has proven he knows how to use it, particularly matching up well in one-on-one drills and situations where he's been one of the top performers in coverage. He's ascended a great deal in the offseason, which should only continue with more experience and opportunities as he affirms himself as a draft steal.
1. Jayden Reed, WR
Make no mistake, the Packers need their pair of second-year wide receivers, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, to make a leap in their sophomore seasons if this team is going to reach the heights they hope to. In the same light, that will also be huge to evaluate Jordan Love and for him to progress.
Rookie wideout Jayden Reed, however, might be the most crucial piece for the offense and, subsequently, the outlook for Love.
Reed, who was taken eight picks after Musgrave in the second round (No. 50 overall) out of Michigan State, came into the league with the pedigree of a player who has a ton of juice (4.37-second 40 at the combine) who could potentially play inside or outside with his versatility in getting open in a variety of ways.
So far in training camp, he's done that. Working quite a bit out of the slot, he's continually shown the ability to get open in the middle and intermediate areas of the field, but also pairing that with the speed to get over the top as well. He also noted in an interview with Packers.com in the locker room after Wednesday's practice that he's gaining more confidence, which is also evident from what we've seen and heard.
Reed has the opportunity to have a huge season for Green Bay if he works out of the slot. While players like Doubs and Marquez Valdez-Scantling are deep threats primarily, there is room for a slot receiver to come in and earn a huge share of the targets, especially with a relatively green quarterback like Love.
He's showing all of the signs of a player who could take the offense to another level, even if that's quite a lot of responsibility for a rookie's shoulders.